BEAUTIFUL LAYA/GASA TREK

OVERVIEW

Beautiful Laya/Gasa Trek, a tour package of 19 nights and 20 days, offers you a chance to trek through the beautiful villages, gorges, passes and valleys of Bhutan. During the tour, you enjoy trekking  through quaint picturesque villages like Shana, Soi Thangthangkha, Jangothang, Lingshi, Chebisa, Shomuthang, Robluthang, Lemithang, Goen Damji, Tashithang and Khuruthang. The itinerary also includes sightseeing in Paro along with other places. Two major highlights are visits to Laya village and lunch at the hot springs of Gasa Tsachu.

Note: This is just a suggested itinerary indicative of what could be possible. We customize holidays for your specific needs. Contact us if you want modifications so that we could customize a holiday to suit your need for an unforgettable International tour.

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Sightseeing in Paro including Drukgyel Dzong
• Day's Excursion to Taktshang, a well-known Buddhist monastery
• Explore the ruins of Drugyel Dzong, which is also a Buddhist monastery
• An upward trek to Shana, Soi Thangthangkha and Chebisa
• Corss Pa Chu pass, a small army post, en-route Jangothang
• Overnight camping in Jangothang, one of the most beautiful sites in the Himalayas
• A mesmerizing view of Lingshi Dzong during trekking to Lingshi
• Corss Gobu La while heading towards Shomuthang 
• Spot an unusual animal at Tsharijathang valley, en-route Robluthang
• Explore the beautiful Laya village of Bhutan
• A descending trek to Koena for an overnight stay
• Lunch at the hot springs of Gasa Tsachu 
• On the way to Khuruthang - Thimphu, halt at Dochula pass for hot tea

ITINERARY DETAILS

Day 1: Delhi - Paro

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On arrival in Delhi, the capital city of India, get an assisted transfer to your pre-booked hotel. The rest of the day is free for leisure activities such as shopping at the popular markets, interacting with the locals, gorging on street food, exploring the nearby surrounding locations on foot and so on. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 2: Paro

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On day 2 of the tour, get on-time transfer to the airport to board a flight to Paro. On arrival in Paro, complete the check-in formalities at your pre-booked hotel. Later, leave for sightseeing. Pay a visit to the ruined Drukgyel Dzong, which once defended the valley from the Tibetan invasion. Thereafter, leave to visit Mount Chomolhari, the sacred summit and the Ta Dzong National museum. Stay overnight.

Day 3: Paro – Excursion to Taktshang- Paro

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After breakfast, leave for a full- day excursion trip to  Taktshang, the Tiger's nest. Also known as the Taktsang Palphug Monastery, this beautiful monastery is located in the cliffside of the Paro Valley. This monastery is best known of the 13 taktsang, that “tiger lair” caves where Guru Padmasambhava had meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 3 hours during the 8th century. He had introduced Buddhism to Bhutan and is also the tutelary deity (the protector) of the country. Night stay in Paro.

Day 4: Paro - Shana

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After breakfast, begin day 4 by driving straight to Drugyel Dzong. On arrival, explore the Dzong.  This Buddhist monastery, now in ruins, was a fortress that was built in 1649. This is the end of the road from where the trek starts. After trekking for around 5 to 6 hours, you reach Shana that is situated at an above sea level of 2,800 meters. On arrival, set-up your camps for an overnight stay. If time and energy permit, you can explore the surroundings on foot.

Day 5: Shana- Soi Thangthangkha(3600 meters)

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On day 5, after breakfast, begin an upward trek passing through the river valley. You head straight to visit Soi Thangthangkha through the river valley. The trek slowly narrows down and gradually gets winded-up that ends down along the drainage. From here at a small distance is your campsite. It is located around 21 kms away (from the beginning point). The trek takes about  7 to 8 hours. On reaching, pitch-in your camps for an overnight stay.

Day 6: Soi Thangthangkha - Jangothang

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Post breakfast, on the 6^th day of the tour, begin the morning by visiting Pa Chu pass, a small army post. Treat your eyes to the beautiful view of high ridges and the surrounding snow-capped peaks all around. Enjoy lunch at a camp underneath a ruined fortress at the base of Mt. Chomolhari. Later, after relaxing for some time, begin trekking towards Jangothang. This place  is a beautiful camping site in the all of the Himalayas. Here, on the eastern side of Paro river are snow peaks. On reaching Jangthong, set-up your camps. If you want then you can oversee the Yak herders villages or indulge in trout fishing as well. Overnight stay.

Day 7: Jangothang - Lingshi

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On day 7, once you have your breakfast, begin trekking to Lingshi. You cross wide yak pastures on an upward trek and later downwards from the pass. If it is that time of the year then you may also get a sight of people in their yak tents. If the weather is clear, you arrive at the Lingshi basin then you enjoy a mesmerizing view of Lingshi Dzong. Home to around 30 monks, it is an important Drukpa Kagyu monastery.  Proceed to the camp site. On reaching, explore the surroundings on foot. You can enjoy a view of Tserim Kang (6789 meters) and its descending glaciers at the north end of the valley. Stay overnight

Day 8: Lingshi - Chebisa

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After breakfast, today is going to the shortest walk of the Beautiful Laya/Gasa trek. Today you also cross the highest point of your trek at 4140 meters. After  reaching your camps at Chebisa (3850 meters), a small but picturesque village. The trek is of around 5-6 hours.  Later, pay a visit to the traditional village houses. It is the said that the plants around this region have medicinal properties. Overnight in Chebisa.

Day 9: Chebisa - Shomuthang

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Today, you walk through high wild pastures where you may spot a small number of people and yaks. On the way, you cross Gobu La (4350 meters). The trek of today is of around 17 kms and takes a span of 6 hours. Later, head towards Shomuthang (4260 meters). On arrival, enjoy camping here on a bench that is placed above the river. This river is a tributary to the Mo Chu.  Enjoy overnight camping there along the banks of the river.

Day 10: Shomuthang - Robluthang

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After an early morning breakfast on the 4^th day of the tour, you begin trekking. On the way, cross Jare La pass. After some time, you arrive in Tsharijathang valley, the habitat of Takins (an unusual animal found in the region that looks like a breed of Goat and Bull). The trek of today is around  15 kms that takes around 5 hours time. Later, continue  trekking towards Robluthand (4160 meters). Enjoy overnight camping to the fullest. 

Day 11: Robluthang - Lemithang

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The trek of today is around 19 kms that takes around 7 hours. The trek consists of both an upward as well as an downward trek. Once you cross the Shingela pass (4900 meters), trekking downwards, you follow the route of the valley to arrive at Lemithang. Situated in the Laya district, in Lemithang, you can have a view a view of the local children wearing traditional hats, playing around. Overnight camping at Lemithang below Kang Che Da, known as the Great Tiger Mountain.

Day 12: Lemithang - Laya

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On day 12, after breakfast begin the descending trek along the twisting river valley while enjoying closed-in feeling while trekking. Total trekking is around 3-4 hours (10 kms). After a point, the trail route splits into two- one route is a descending one to the river camp side of the army. The second route brings you to the western front of the village Laya. Continue trekking to reach the eastern side of the village where your camp has been laid over a highly placed flat bench.  On reaching the east end of Laya village, settle into your camps. Later, the rest of the day is free to wander around the village and admire the surrounding beauty. In the evening, you  can watch a cultural performance by the village women. Enjoy overnight camp on a high flat bench.

Day 13: Laya

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Today, after breakfast, relax for sometime and later step out of your camp to explore Laya village, which is a community of around 1000 people with their distinct dresses, languages and customs. One of Bhutan’s highest villages, Laya (3700 meters) is located on a hillside near the Tibetan border. If you want you can interact with the locals and explore the surroundings on foot. Contrary to Bhutanese women who have cropped hair, the women here have hair long. There headgear is a conical bamboo hat, topped with spikes. They dress in a black Yak wool jacket and colored stripped skirt.

Day 14: Laya - Koena

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Have breakfast and begin  your 7-hr trek of around 19 kms. The initial trek is ascending but after a while it becomes a descending one along the river valley. You enjoy an amazing view of the crashing  river and waterfalls during the trek. At few places, the trek is a muddy one so you need to be careful. Continue trek towards Koena (3050 meters). On arrival, pitch-in your camps at the site for an overnight stay.

Day 15: Koena - Gasa Dzong

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After breakfast on day 15, begin an upward trek and later a descending trek crossing fir forests. En-route, you cross Balena pass (3900 meters). The place is marked by a stone on few prayer flags. Later, begin a downward trek through fir and bamboo forests. After some time, you can see Gasa Dzong. Your trek now towards  Gasa  is both descending and ascending. Your camp is placed near the Dzong (9250 feet). Halt for overnight in the camp.

Day 16: Gasa – Gasa Tsachu (hot springs)

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Have breakfast and explore the village. Head to Gaza Tsachu, the hot springs where you have a relaxed lunch. You can relax here for some time. These hot springs are located on the river  banks, quite close to the site of the camp. If you want then you can also visit the Gasa Dzong, a bulwark structure that was erected during the 17^th century. Stay overnight in the camp.

Day 17: Gasa Tsachu - Goen Damji

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After breakfast on day  17, begin an upward trek from Gasa Tsachu. While trekking for Goen Damji, you enjoy a winding trail passing the hillsides from where you can enjoy mesmerizing views of the Oak and pine trees, lush fields and nearby villages. You leave behind Gasa Dzong. the trek of today is of around 7 hours where you cross a distance of 21 kms. Arrive at your camp for spending overnight in Goen Damji.

Day 18: Goen Damji –Tashithang- Khuruthang(camp)

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Once you have breakfast, begin a downward trail crossing high agricultural benches that are placed right above the Mo Chu. After a while you pass through green semi-tropical gorge where you find creepers and banana trees. Later, you arrive at Tashithang that is around 17 kms (5-6 hours). This is the point from where you get your transportation to reach Khuruthang, you site for overnight camp.

Day 19: Khuruthang - Thimphu

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On day 19 of the tour, begin your 3- hour drive to reach Thimphu. On the way, cross Dochula pass (around 10,000 feet). If the view is clear, you can enjoy beautiful views of snow -covered mountains. Halt at the Dochula cafeteria to enjoy a hot cup of tea.. Later drive to Trimphu, the capital of Bhutan. On arrival, complete the check-in formalities at your hotel. Relax in the comfort of your room. Overnight stay.

Day 20: Thimphu- Paro Airport

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Today is the last day of the tour when you get transferred to the International Airport at Paro to board your  onward flight.